I think that the value of your editor was not in efficiency --if we define it as "data entry speed". I think it had a lot more to do with a sensible user interface that was accessible and yes, "efficient", for someone --anyone-- to get into. It used that peripherals and accepted UI norms available at the time and it did so well enough to be successful.

vim is a cult based on metrics that are not significant drivers in the context of building a software product or company.